Question

Executives and federal officials say that the use of crack and cocaine is growing rapidly among workers, significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already are a cost to business of more than $100 billion a year.
(A) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already are a cost to business of
(B) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already cost business
(C) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, already with business costs of
(D) significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already costing business
(E) significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already costs business

Answer 1

Answer:

Correct Sentence is (B) : significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already cost business

Explanation:

• A is wrong as "which already are a cost to business of" is incorrect usage.
• the effects of drug and alcohol abuse [plural] - COST "is" required. So, C and E out.
• D is wrong because initial non-underlined part "the use....is growing" which indicates it requires an adverb to indicate the emphasis and also u can see ", and already costing business" part in the end which add another clause rather than a modified form.
• So the correct one is B with correct grammar and word usage.